World | India

Family of thieves held in Kerala

Men confess they resorted to theft to cater for luxury lifestyle of woman member in gang

By Akhel Mathew, Correspondent

Published: 15:56 February 10, 2014

Image Credit: AP

Thiruvananthapuram: Police in Kerala’s Kottayam district said they have taken into custody three people — a brother, sister and the woman’s husband — on charges of theft.

The two men have allegedly confessed to police that they had resorted to theft to pander to the luxury lifestyle of the woman member of the gang.

The three were identified as Manganam K. Shibu, 31, his wife Raji, 26 and Raji’s brother Vadavathoor Maliekal Rajesh, 22. They were apprehended by local residents at Lakattoor while trying to break into a locked house.

The gang had purchased a small car and police believe part of the earnings from their illegal activities were used to pay for the vehicle loan. Rajesh, who also had a job as bus driver at a local school, would allegedly join his sister and brother-in-law in their car, after finishing his school duties in the morning.

On occasion, the trio resorted to burglary by breaking into homes.

On Sunday morning when the trio went on their rounds looking for homes that could be broken into, Raji had left her six-year-old son at Rajesh’s house.

Police said the team resorted to theft and burglary in different parts of Kottayam district, and that they were behind the incident where a 65-year-old woman was robbed of a gold chain a week ago.

Raji and Rajesh lost their parents at an early age and had been brought up by relatives.